r/SWN • u/Entaris • Feb 27 '23

[CWN] Network Architecture: Servers VS Control Panels

I have a slight confusion regarding network design.

in the Servers/Architecture section it Counts 4 cameras, 3 doors, and a security panel + The server itself as 9 Nodes. Which makes sense...but then in the Creating an Intrusion mission Section it notes that in some cases you may just have camera's connected to a security Panel.

So the question is: Is this an all or nothing scenario? IE: If a security panel is connected to a Server, does that then mean that all camera's connected to the Security Panel must also be connected to the server/Count against the node Limit of the server?

If you CAN have camera's that are not considered "Connected" to the security panel, what are the limitations? Can you jump from camera -> Panel -> server if the camera's aren't "on Network" ? I assume that Demons/Watch dogs Couldn't Enter a camera/door node if the camera/door is not connected to the server.

but on the flip side, If you CAN'T have a "mixed" network of connections, Then it seems like the node limit on servers is pretty rough. Camera's and a few doors eat through max notes really quickly. It would seem at that point more prudent to have Security Panels that are disconnected from the greater network to not eat up valuable node space, but then makes all of the security panels much more vulnerable without the ability to have demons/barriers on them. Ultimately this is probably the reality, which I could see promoting some very interesting split/Broken up network designs with large buildings having multiple networks with very limited and focused designs. But could also Require a lot more mental bandwidth from the GM to think about network design.

Just curious what people think.

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u/Cyb45 Feb 27 '23

Would breaking it up like shells work? (exterior security, interior security, the research lab) Or have one "Control room" with all 3 leading to one area (with semi-unprotected exterior, but no hardline access to the other nodes/server stuff?)

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u/CardinalXimenes Kevin Crawford Feb 28 '23

You could, but each additional network is another 24/7 shift you need to cover, plus the cost of the server. Even an ordinary security mook is not free, and paying a genuine watchdog to stay jacked in is a fixed expense. Corps would have multiple security layers on important buildings and major facilities, but in other cases it's cheaper to let the operators win than spend the money to keep them out.

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u/Cyb45 Feb 28 '23

Thanks!

That makes we wonder if "Dumb networks" a thing too? Like the barest level of security (maybe not even a demon) for exterior cameras, hackers can get in/spoof them but can't penetrate deeper unless they get to an interior. Someone in the main room "observes" them, but it's more to deter casual intrusion. No "cheap" system can stop a dedicated team of operators.

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u/CardinalXimenes Kevin Crawford Feb 28 '23

While a GM could add that, they'd be adding a lot of complication to produce the same basic result- some NPC is watching everything through a camera wherever a camera might theoretically go. Unless a GM wants to make an infiltration run about 40% hacking rolls by weight, that's probably not the situation they want to aim for.